Pinarayi Vijayan, the incumbent Chief Minister of Kerala and a prominent leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), is aiming for a historic third term in the 2026 Assembly polls.
Born in 1944, Vijayan has risen through the party ranks to become the 12th Chief Minister of the state, a position he has held since May 25, 2016.
As the head of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly, he oversees a vast array of portfolios including Home, Vigilance, General Administration, and Planning and Economic Affairs.
Vijayan's supporters credit him for breaking the state's historical "alternating power" curse in 2021, but he faces unique hurdles in the upcoming election cycle, including rebellion from former party stalwarts.
A fierce critic of the BJP, Vijayan remains committed to his political ideology and national stance, positioning the Left as the "only force" capable of resisting the RSS's ideological agenda in Kerala.
With a political journey spanning over six decades, Vijayan has served in various roles, including Minister for Electricity and Co-operation, Secretary of the Kerala State Committee of the CPI(M), and a member of the party's top decision-making body, the Polit Bureau.
